HSI announced as official partner to Longines FEI European Championships 2015 at Blair Castle

  • 24 July 2015, 10:44
THE Longines FEI European Eventing Championship 2015 held at Blair Castle, 10-13 September, is proud to announce Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) as an Official Partner not only to this year’s prestigious European Eventing Championships but also into 2016 with the Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

Horse Sport Ireland’s initiative, The Irish Horse Gateway, will sponsor the International Supporters Pavilion, which is situated alongside the main arena and is a private members’ enclosure adjacent to the athletes and sponsors’ marquees.  The pavilion is designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for the most discerning and loyal supporters of the sport, who are part of a recognised Event Horse Owners’ Association or Horse Trials Support group. With an excellent view of the main arena, Blair Castle and the spectacular hills beyond, hospitality, access to the Pol Roger Champagne tent, private garden, live CCTV coverage of the cross country action, free Wifi and access to the welcoming ceremony, it really is the place to be at Blair.  The Irish Horse Gateway will also have a dedicated fence on Ian Stark’s much anticipated cross country course and will be represented with a branded fence in the British Showjumping competitions, which take place over the weekend running alongside the European Eventing Championship.

The Irish Horse Gateway is an initiative of Horse Sport Ireland, its aim is to connect the world to the Irish Horse using both online and traditional channels. It is the first point of contact for overseas clients seeking information on sourcing Irish horses and ponies for Equestrian sport and leisure.  The Irish Horse Gateway’s mission is to connect buyers to sellers of Irish horses and ponies and promote the success of Irish horses and ponies internationally to build upon its reputation worldwide.

“We are delighted to welcome Horse Sport Ireland on board to join us as an Official Partner.  The association with world class horse sport breeding is one we are particularly proud of and I am sure that there will be plenty of Irish Horse talent on display during what is set to be a fantastic weekend of Championship Eventing,” commented Event Director Alec Lochore.

During the weekend Horse Sport Ireland will be continuing its project to collect and analyse data relating to the conformation of horses competing at the highest level in the discipline of eventing.  Linear Profiles will be completed for the horses competing that have agreed to participate in the study, where conformation traits are measured against a scale.  The purpose of this research is to help in the breeding of the next generation of top class horse athletes.

The Irish Sport Horse Studbook has topped the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) eventing studbook rankings for the 2014 season, which runs from 1st October 2013 to 30th September 2014. Since the WBFSH rankings were established in 1994, the Irish Sport Horse Studbook has taken top spot in the eventing rankings for 19 of the last 21 years.

Elaine Hatton, Director of International Marketing, Horse Sport Ireland commented “We are delighted to be an Official Partner of the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship at Blair Castle.  It is a great opportunity to promote the Irish Horse Gateway on the European stage and in the UK and Scotland in particular where the Irish bred horses and ponies are increasingly popular.”

The Longines FEI European Eventing Championship forms part of UK Sport’s National Lottery backed #EveryRoadtoRio events series, which will feature over 30 world class sports events the length and breadth of the UK, supporting British athletes’ preparation and qualification for Rio 2016. The Championship is also supported by EventScotland, which has a longstanding relationship with the team at Blair Castle.

For information on the Longines FEI European Eventing Championship 2015 at Blair Castle visit   www.blair2015.comblair_gateway